Blown In Insulation Guide

Here you will find the resources necessary to determine the best type of insulation to use in your home to maximize your energy savings. Properly insulating your home is the easiest way to reduce your energy consumption and cut down on your heating an cooling costs. The type and amount of insulation required to make your home as energy efficient as possible varies greatly depending on the area of the country in which you live. In addition to general information, we also provide basic instruction for do it yourself types on topics such as how to blow in insulation.

Basic Terms
Before we get into the details of the various forms of insulation and their advantages and disadvantages, let’s cover the basic terminology you will encounter when researching insulation products. This will help you more easily understand why certain types of blown in insulation are better than others in different circumstances.

R-Value: The first term you need to understand is R-Value. This is the measure of a materials thermal resistance. There are complicated equations for determining the R-value of a given material, but for our purposes all you need to know is that the higher the R-Value the greater a materials insulating effectiveness. Several factors come into play when determining an insulations R-Value. These include the material used, the density of the material, and the thickness. Certain variables can affect the stated R-Value of an insulation product. For instance, if the material becomes compressed, the R-Value will be diminished. Gaps between studs in a wall can also negatively affect the R-Value.

Batts: Batts are a common form of insulation. They are generally purchased in large rolls. It is then installed between the ceiling joists in a ceiling, attic, or between the studs in a wall. If you remember the Owens Corning commercials with the Pink Panther, he was typically rolling a batt of insulation. Batts are an effective method of insulating a new or older home. The advantage of batts is that it requires no special equipment to install. However, it must be done very carefully. Any gaps in the insulation will cause a significant loss of R-Value.  The batt insulation R Value is determined by it’s thickness and density.

Blown in insulation: This is another very effective form of insulation. While batts require no special equipment to install, blow in insulation or loose fill insulation, requires machinery to  blown the insulating material into the space you are insulating. While it does require special hardware, blown insulation can be much easier than batts to install correctly. Because it is sprayed onto and over ceiling joists, there is little chance of leaving air gaps that will reduce the R-Value of the insulation. The type of material most commonly used in this form of insulation is recycled newspaper or cardboard which is referred to as blown in cellulose insulation.  The R-Value of blow in insulation is measured by the depth to which it is blown.  For a greater R Value, you simply increase the depth of the material.

While batts may be an effective way to insulate a home, it takes meticulous and arduous attention to detail to ensure there are no gaps between any of the batts or ceiling joists. Therefore the ease of installation and low blown in insulation cost makes it a more cost effective and energy efficient option in the majority of cases. And while it does require you to either hire a contractor or rent special equipment, in the long run blown in insulation is just as efficient and easier to install correctly.

Check out this video on how to install Cellulose Insulation in walls and attics.